Father Casimir Wyszynski

Mission in Portugal I n March of 1752, Father Wyszyński received news that the King of Portugal invited the Marians to his country. In response, the Servant of God wrote a joyful letter to his Superior General: “Glory be to God, our Lord, that for the honor of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin, He does not forget us who bear this same title; rather in all adversities He consoles the humble ones and those scorned by all; and He raises up the poor from their misery to place them among princes. The King of Portugal wrote to the Procurator General in Spain, directing that he should bring our friars from Poland to Portugal as he wants to honor us with a royal foundation.” Father Casimir also urged the General to make a decision immediately in the matter. He insisted that someone should be sent fromPoland as soon as possible and sug- gested that he himself with Father John Cantius Szkaffer, a Bo- hemian, and “another Pole with him for the honor of the Polish nation, should be sent.” He described in detail what they should take with them to Portugal and suggested that they “…. seek the recommendation and support of the Polish magnates, so that theywould assist us in this undertaking and sponsor our journey to Portugal for our Homeland’s greater honor and respect. For it is a great honor for the Polish Kingdom that a Polish religious Order should be summoned by such a monarch.” On this subject, Father Wyszyński wrote to an official inWar- saw, Father Anthony Casimir Ostrowski (later the Primate of Poland); to the Bishop of Poznan, Theodore Czartoryski; to the Castellan of Rawa, Felician Trzciński, his close friend; to his alum- nus, Father Casimir Polak; and to his own brother, Michael. He also addressed several letters to the Superior General, Father Cayetan Wetycki. While still in Rome, Father Casimir kept insisting that a final decision bemade soon. He did not want to forfeit the opportunity to spread the honor of Mary Immaculate. Concerned about the lack of news fromPoland, Father Casimir poured out his worries in his letter to the Superior General on July 15, 1752, saying that everyone was asking whether the Marians had already arrived 91 The Servant of Mary Immaculate